Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Granada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Granada and La Fortuna. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Granada is $40, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $104. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Granada and La Fortuna in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Granada or La Fortuna? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Granada change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Granada and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in La Fortuna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Fortuna than you might in Granada.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Granada Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Granada has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Granada and La Fortuna, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Both La Fortuna and Granada are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. It's quite rainy in Granada. In July, Granada usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. Granada gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Granada usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna during summer. Granada gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Granada is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both La Fortuna and Granada during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Granada. Granada usually gets less rain in October than La Fortuna. Granada gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Granada often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. Granada gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun.
Granada is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Granada averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Granada and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Granada usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. Granada gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Fortuna this time of the year. In Granada, it's very sunny this time of the year. Granada usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during winter. Granada gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Granada is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Granada in January average around 26°C (79°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The spring brings many poeple to Granada as well as La Fortuna. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
Granada usually gets less rain in April than La Fortuna. Granada gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Granada this time of the year. In the spring, Granada often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna. Granada gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Granada is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 29°C (84°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Granada | La Fortuna | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |